It’s March and I am making the annual calendar for my educational organization, which has been my second home for the past 20 years. Keeping a close eye on the working and non-working days, every government holiday falling on Sunday gives me a cringe.Planning for the school, family and my personal travel is on full throttle, thanks to the full-time job.
Being an educator with a die hard passion for traveling, work, travel, and Blogging is what I enjoy. Blogging though came much later when I felt the urge to share my travel stories with many and not restrict to a few audiences as my colleagues. Listening to the travelogues, many around developed a traveling itch.
It’s been a sheer joy walking the tight rope of a full-time job, traveling, and Blogging. I have been enjoying both thoroughly. Each complements the other and I enjoy both the worlds.
Over the years following some very fine attributes have helped me to hone my skills. I firmly believe to be creatively productive intermittent breaks from the routine are a must.
Working as an educator I have always been surrounded by people of all ages which has helped me develop skills like Listening, observation, empathy, instinct, counseling, and a few more while travel helped me to find myself as a blogger and a storyteller.
The more I traveled , I evolved learning mindfulness and meditation. Slow travel brought me closer to communities and cultures of different parts of the world and I am highly grateful to my full-time job which facilitates my travel. I do get attracted to the Nomad life when things are clustered but a small breather of travel brings me back with renewed energy.
This is proven more steadfastly than ever, by the pandemic and as the travel came to a halt the full-time job was a huge relief to fall back upon. I personally love being an educator as it gives me a sense of fulfillment and I adore my passion which gives me enriching life experiences and makes me take on challenges with renewed energy and vision.
Over my multiple travels, I find myself more empathetic, grateful and I count my blessings each day.
The quote “work hard party harder” reflects me. The adrenaline rush on a Friday afternoon after winding the day an hour early with hasty goodbyes and promises to be back for the work to be contd……..is my bond and belonging to my workplace.
Over the period of years, a certain travel pattern is diligently followed with family friends, and solo, each having its huge benefits. For this to happen seamlessly I have followed these consistently and I still have a long way to go.
Scheduling:
☞All my trips and vacations are thought of and well planned. Every holiday that is available in the calendar normally a long weekend along with an added day gives me a window of 4 to 5 days and closer to home destinations are ticked off.
☞When work requires some extra hours I am the first one to be there.
☞ Being an educator I am privileged to have three long breaks which are used for longer trips, but I make sure to be there on the most required days.
Scheduling of time:
☞ Blogging requires a lot of thought processes and creativity, not to forget comprehending all the small notes that I have made while on my travels.
☞Research takes away a lot of time and my day typically starts at 4:30 a.m. and ends at 10:30 p.m.
☞I have hugely gained from becoming a 4:00 am Club Member. Initially, 4:00 am seemed to be another world but once the mindset to share stories was made, a quiet hour of the day was required,Today it’s a routine.
I also realized we have immense potential, we need to push our boundaries time and again.
Prioritizing:
☞ The annual calendar helps me to prioritize all my work assignments, family tasks, and personal travel. This art , yes it’s an art which helps me to understand the time available and accordingly prioritize.
☞Task done well in advance to avoid the last-minute hassle is always good and gives me time in hand. The art of prioritizing is a must and helps me to travel hassle-free.
☞My weekly posts along with photographs are curated well in advance along with the back-end work.
☞my blogs mostly four in a month are curated well in advance with good time in hand for any rethought before publishing.
☞I also schedule some time on learning new skills which are scheduled as per the need of the hour and keep me on the edge of technology and new updates in both my profession.
☞A newbie to blogging learning the art has been a journey that will continue always.
Perseverance:
☞Travel is my passion and I love my job and I believe in doing both as
Best as I can. There are moments of low self-confidence but bouncing back to your craft is very important.
☞There are times where I go back to watch TOM & JERRY for their never give up attitude .
☞I have created a certain style of writing and I wish to have every piece only likewise or better. My readers look forward to meaningful and enjoyable content, so every piece has to be precision personified.
☞keep doing is the mantra, it worked for me and as I look back on my first blog today and on my forty sixth with hundreds of posts, perseverance has what kept me going.
It’s hugely liberating when you are walking the tight rope act very well.
Consistency:
☞Routines are highly boring but they are the best to keep your passion ticking. Practice does make man perfect, (leave the quote) but it does have a lot of weight may be the quote is cliche but it does hold a lot of ground.
☞ for me, travel is the window for a whiff of fresh air. When it gets crowded with the surroundings and the routine that is the time I enjoy the most and look forward to coming back to my familiar settings to share all that I can and spread all the joy and stories around.
I look up to Popeye for his consistency and his goal where he wished to be, starting small a and you and to make a strong foothold you are sure to reach your goals.
Finances:
☞My permanent full-time job is my ladder to travel. It not only pays my bills it also allows my multiple Travels.
I learned to manage my finances on the travel journey and it helped me become street-smart to save as much as possible.
☞ Through my permanent Job, I have created a travel Fund that helps me to travel frequently.
☞ To travel modestly or luxuriously is a call everyone needs to take. For me, it depends on the destination. If it’s an urban destination and I am gonna be sightseeing I will go for a moderate stay, but if it’s for relaxation comfort of home stays amidst the natural settings are preferred and they do Incur extra cost.
☞ Conveyances need a serious study depending on your travel plans.
☞Well researched places for local food incurs minimum cost.
Research:
☞I understood this word in-depth when I started blogging and have hugely gained from it, as I find my why quotient and keep my interest piqued always finding answers to the infinite wonders created by the almighty and humans.
☞I have learned to calculate distances in-between places, Map reading, photography, and many more. The world is a different place altogether than when in the confines of our homes than when outside in the open.
Epilogue
Blogging is a highly competitive field and earning my buck from it is a faraway thought right now. I believe in my stories and want people to read through my experiences and travel and evolve, but both can be achieved with a steady source of income for the majority of us. Being a nomad is not for everyone, but to be one you can continue with both and still have the best of Both worlds.
I am highly in awe off of the nomads, but I prefer coming back to my educator job time and again, meet my family, get into the comfort zone, and be ready for another Break.
